1058 What we ought not to have learnt from Hollywood, we have aped shamelessly-- Casting Couch

I greatly appreciate Ms. Sri-Reddy, actress of Telugu language Film Industry (also called Tollywood) for her courage in belling the proverbial Cat- of "Casting Couch". Hollywood is the Role Model for Bollywood, the Mumbai (Bombay) Filmy World. And Bollywood is the Role Model for the Film Industries of the Languages of Rest of India. Of course, "Casting Couch" might not have started with Harvey Weinstein. It might have started in the very first year of the Advent of the Hollywood Film Industry, and nobody might have bothered to notice it. For the 21st Century World, the allegations against Mr. Harvey Weinstein might have popularised the phrase of 'Casting Couch'. Italian model Ambra Gutierrez, seems to be the first Actress, who deserves to be credited with the courage of 'Belling the Cat'.

The linked news report of Hindustantimes we can take as the first Reaction/Response from BOllywood, consequent to the Ringing Bells in Hollywood against Mr. Harvey Weinstein. Click here to go to https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/varalaxmi-sarathkumar-to-ranveer-singh-10-shocking-celebrity-casting-couch-stories/story-dmAeFdbUgXThV1ydgL33LJ.html.

This HindusthanTimes news report, narrated the experiences of ten Bollywood Actors and Actresses who have been offered and narrowly escaped the sufferings of Casting Couch, or gone through the sufferings.

One particular paragraph from this News Report is worth quoting, and examining:--

...
10. Preeti Jain In July 2004, struggling actor Preeti Jain lodged a complaint against director Madhur Bhandarkar. Jain alleged that Bhandarkar had raped her 16 times between 1999 and 2004, under the pretext of marrying her and casting her in his films. The Supreme Court in 2012 quashed the rape case filed against Bhandarkar by the starlet eight years ago. Follow @htshowbiz for more. Link for the htshowbiz: Click here to go to https://twitter.com/htshowbiz

Present Context: Mr. Pavan Kalyan, Telugu film Hero, and Active Politician, advising Ms. ShriReddy the Actress who belled the Cat of Casting Couch, in Telugu Film Industry, TO GO TO COURT, INSTEAD OF GOING TO TV CHANNELS.

Link to what Mr. Pavan Kalyan is reported to have said. Click here to go to https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/dont-protest-on-streets-go-to-the-police-pawan-kalyan-tells-sri-reddy-activists-slam-the-actor-politicians-hypocrisy/articleshow/63773062.cms.

“Evaraina thappu cheste, TV deggariki osthe laabham ledu, court lo case eskomani cheppandi. Ee sensationalism kanna, evairaithe vallaki anyayam chesaro, vallaki court lo, police station lo, chattalunnayi... case veyyamani cheppadi... appudukuda jaraganappudu alantivi chesthe betterga untadi ani nenu bhavisthunanu,” said PK.

(If anybody has been exploited, there is no point in going to TV channels. Insted let them file a case in the courts. Instead of seeking to sensationalise (referring to the nude protest) the issue, they must approach the police and the court of law.)

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views, which are not intended to be imposed on others

As an individual Indian Citizen, Mr. Pavan Kalyan has a right to express his own Opinions and views, under the Fundamental Right of Freedom of Expression. But, we should not forget that he is not just an individual citizen entitled to his right of Freedom of Expression, but also HE IS A PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE TELUGU FILM INDUSTRY CHARGING MILLIONS AND CRORES FOR A ROLE IN FILM, WHICH INVOLVES WORK OF A FEW MONTHS. Very often, 80% of cost of production of a Telugu film, probably Bollywood Film, and even Hollywood film, happen to be the Fat Remuneration of Millions and Crores paid to the Film Heros, and Directors. Their Remuneration is disproportionately high. 80% of the Indian Films and probably Hollywood Films tend to be filth and trash, because the Producers and Distributors have to recover back their moolah. Yet, 80% of the films fail at Box Office. Thus almost all our Heros, and some of Directors are becoming the cause for production of Shit in films and Beneficiaries of Shit in films, while millions and crores of common people are robbed of their hard-earned money through daily-wages or sweat-shop occupations.

I am tempted to use abusive words such as 'shit', 'filth', and 'pigs' to depict the greed of our producers, directors, and Heros. But I shall not use them any more. Reason: I do not want to insult pigs or filth. Indian street pigs do a Great Service of Scavengers of our Streets in Slums, though the pigs also be serving as a medium for spread of vector mosquito born diseases like meningitis, dengue, and chikungunya.

This subject of Casting Couch and 'demand for commitment (another word for demanding surrender to the lude desires of Producers/Directors/Heros/Powers-that-be who dish out roles to Female Character Artists) is a 1000 page subject, requiring 100 blog posts of 10 pages each. Yet, this will have to be handled with perseverance and diligence.

Question: Mr. Pavan Kalyan took nearly one month to express his lop-sided view. You too seem to be neglecting this perilous and pressing problem of Indian Film Industry. Even now, you seem to be writing too little and too late.

Ans: I have initially thought that all these happenings are gyrations, convolutions of the bourgeoisie socio-economics (in my mother tongue Telugu language bUrjuvA vikArAlu బూర్జువా వికారాలు). Bourgeoisie Spasms can be cured only by replacing the bourgeoisie Economies and Societies with Truly Proletarian Marxist/Socialist/Communist Democratic Economies and Societies. Once the Capitalist Economies and Societies get replaced with Working Class Economies and Societies, where inequalities are not allowed to sprout, grow, exist, exploit, reproduce, and never die. Members of Working Classes will have to be very alert and act well-in-time, lest Inequalities arise and penetrate even into Truly Socialist Societies. Vigilance and United Action are the Prices to be paid by Working Class for their Resurrection to Equality.

Question: Don't you view MAA (Movie Artists Association) as a Working Class Organisation?

First, for the benefit of the Non-Telugu Readers all over India, and the World, who do not know anything about MAA, I shall give a link to their 'About-Page': Click here to go to http://www.maastars.com/about-maa/. I also quote below the first few paragraphs from their About Page, to get started:

Movie Artists’ Association was formed on 04-10-1993 with Padmabhushan, Dr. Chiranjeevi as its Founder President and Padma Bhushan Dr.Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Chief Advisor. The term of the office is fixed at 2 years. The Other Office bearers were Sri Gummadi Venkateswara Rao and Sri M.Prabhakara Reddy as Vice President’s, Sri M. Murali Mohan as Secretary, Sri M. Balaiah and Sri K.J.Saradhi as Joint Secretary’s and Sri M.Mohan Babu as Treasurer took charge of the office.

The Presidential post was held by stalwarts like Superstar Krishna, Sri Nagarjuna, Sri Mohan Babu, Sri Naga Babu and the post of General Secretary by Sri A.V.S, Late P.K.Mallikarjuna Rao, Sri Ahuthi Prasad A.J.V. etc., Since then many stalwarts of the Telugu Film Industry have contributed their mite to the betterment of MAA in various ways.

The Association has started with about 50 Artists’ as its members and now swelled to about 700 members, which clearly shows their confidence in the Association.

... ... ...

To continue adding / modifying / deleting.

1040 I greatly appreciate the courage and self-confidence of Mr. Katti Mahesh in criticising Shri Pavan Kalyan, but Shri Mahesh should be more careful

Mr. Katti Mahesh, a Talented Telugu Actor, a candid and frank Telugu Film Critic, and a Qualified Journalist, is going through a tough phase in his life, because of his courage and convictions. It is not easy to hop from one TV Studio to another TV Studio in Hyderabad, and facing dozens of rebuking questions from Telugu Viewers, for some hours, by and large, with a smiling face is not an easy task. It requires lot of Self-Confidence, which Mr. Mahesh seems to amply possess. But as a well-wisher of Mr. Katti Mahesh, not that he does not know, he seems to be a more knowledgeable, and resourceful person than me, I have a word of caution. There is a Proverb "PramAdO dhImatA api" which means even a wise person can accidentally slip and injure himself. If it is some minor physical injury such as 'a sprain on an ankle', it may be alright. But, in case of words it is not so. Once words slip from the mouth/tongue -now probably- Computer keyboard/Mouse, it will be difficult to back. And, there will be people to chase and hound. Hence I appeal to him, as far as possible, to prepare written statements, show them to his Lawyers and Senior Journalists, get their advice, and then only speak out / tweet. Ex Tempore speaking in ordinary times may not cause much harm, but in testing times, where every TV Viewer and Netizen is too eager to catch a person for his-her faults, the Ex Tempore must be very careful. Else he-she will land themselves in avoidable hardships and hazards.

Telugu Poet Late Shri-Shri wrote: (In Telugu Script, Roman Script, followed by English Gist:)

నిప్పులు చిమ్ముకుంటూ nippulu chimmu kunTU
నింగికి నేను ఎగిరిపోతే ningiki nEnu egiri pOtE
నిబిడాశ్చర్యంతో వీరు! nibiDAscharyam tO vIru !

నెత్తురు కక్కుకుంటూ netturu kakku kunTU
నేలకు నేరాలిపోతే nElaku nE rAli pOtE నిర్దాక్షిణ్యంగా వీరే!! nirdAkshiNyam gA vIrE !

Approx. English Gist: nippulu chimmu kunTU = Sprewing Fire,
ningiki nEnu egiri pOtE = When I cruise into the Space
nibiDAscharyam tO vIru = These people, gazing their mounts, with Awe and Wonder

netturu kakku kuntU = Vomiting Blood
nElaku nE rAli pOtE = When I fall onto the ground
nirdAkshiNyam gA vIRE = The Same people, devoid of sympathy !!

The message here is, the same people who look up with awe and admiration when a person rises, will show no empathy when the flight meets a disaster. That means, we should not believe or trust people, for their consistency or reliability. More people will be eager to throw stones, for a person who fails.

Question: You seem to be a cynic or a pessimist. Mr. Mahesh is throwing aspersions on everybody in TV Channels. Why do you try to defend him?

Something may be wrong with my eyes or in my thinking. But I must say that Mr. Katti Mahesh appears more reliable to me , when compared to Mr. Pavan Kalyan, and his hundreds of thousands of (some of them gullible or blind, probably) followers, who are chasing Mr. Mahesh.

Mr. Mahesh appears to be like the lonely Abhimanyu, who entered Padma VyUha (Lotus Formation) with great valor, when sent by his Elder Uncle King YudhishThira. Those who are familiar with Kurukshetra war and the Mahabharata Epic, know that Abhimanyu met his tragic end in the Lotus Formation, as he was surrounded by Duryodhana-Dussasana-Karna-Drona Company, disarmed, and killed mercilessly.

Question: Do you think that Katti Mahesh might have been sent into this Lotus Formation by YSRCP Party or Mr. Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy?

Everything is possible in this Bourgeoisie World, but yet, from the way in which Mr. Mahesh is handling this question on TV Channels with substantial courage, I am personally tempted to believe that YSRCP or Jagan may not be behind Katti Mahesh. I shall try to write reasons and discuss reasons for my perception, shortly.

To come back and continue adding / deleting / modifying. Only 10% complete.

972 Can a poor country like India afford to spend Rs. 10 billion on a single movie?

The eight day old Movie Bahubali-2 a Conclusion, is reported to have collected approx. Rs. 8 billion (Rs. 800 Crore) in its eight days life. Print News papers, TV Channels, internet pages are agog with predictions that it will collect Rs. 10 billion (Rs. 1,000 crore) shortly. During the last fortnight there is a big hullabaloo about the Greatness of the contents of Bahubali2 in Press Media, Electronic Media, and Net. It is said that honey-bees live 45 days. Average life span of a worker ant is about five weeks. While the Bahubali-1 Beginning was reported to have gathered big moolah in its first release, it is reported that the same film's second release in March 2017, received little attention and money. Virually with all the newspapers, TV channels, net pages, day-in day-out hammering out the merits of the Bahubali-2, it has become very difficult to delineate and distinguish between GENUINE NEWS and PAID NEWS (advertisements converted into news, of course for an extra payment to the Media).

India is a very poor country, where millions of people find it very difficult to get two square meals a day. Bulk of its population is Working Class. Everybody knows big budget films try to make a quick buck, by jacking up prices of cinema tickets in the first week of release of the film, as if the film will vanish into thin air during the second week. Of course, producers and distributors blame the Exhibitors (Theatre owners), for the black-marketing of Cinema Tickets. I have come across hotel workers, auto-drivers, shop clerks and sales persons, who hardly earn about Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 9,000/- per month (Rs. 200 to 300 per day), shelling out as much as Rs. 2,000/- (about 6 to 8 days wage) to see a film of about 3 hours. They do not know what they are doing.

Some Important Questions

1. Abnormally huge remuneration paid to Heros.
2. Preferance to shot films abroad, even when suitable Indian Locations are available.
3. High rents charged by theatre owners.
4. High profile media publicity.
5. Creating unnecessary sets and settings, spending millions, just to create scenes of a few minutes, which are later, often abandoned or dismantled, resulting in loss of huge quantities of materials such as plywood.
6. Studying History, Researching into veracity and tenability of Legends, Mythologies, and Histories are more important than indulging into fictitious and imaginary questions like "Why did Kattappa kill Bahubali?".
7. May be under evil influences from Hollywood films, Indians seem to have created self-illusions that "SMALL" is not beautiful, and "Small Films" are not financially viable.
8. Media, especially those firms and Companies which have sold financial strength, should not run for dosh from excess crazy advertising and greedy-unhealthy advertising campaigns, simply because there are some millions on golden platters.
9. A dozen Joy-generating, and message-filled (not preaching) films can be produced with the same investments of one single film like Bahubali Beginning and Bahubali-2 Conclusion. Some of them will definitely succeed, though some may fail. This Film World has not become totally black and dismal. When small films are produced, risks can be spread and hedged.
10. On the other hand see: If the big budget films like Bahubal Beginning and Bahubali Conclusion tank at Box Office? In fact, had NOT the producers, directors, distributors, exhibitors have not indulged in numerous unscrupulous marketing practices for creating illusions and craze among the spectators and the people, the two films might have flopped. It is not my wish that they should flop. We should anticipate the possibility of their flopping, and their consequences. At least some lives of some distributors will be wrecked. We can see the lessons from the said-to-be failure of Mr. Pavan Kalyan's films- Gabbar Singh, and Katama Rayudu. Let us wish that Film Industry in toto, and the billions of people across the world are not hijacked and dumped into craze and idiocy, by foolish business advertising and publicity propagandas.

To continue adding / deleting / modifying. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.

892 Why didn't this idea of Pavan Kalyan cannot get elected or HAS not GOT elected as a sarpaNch, occur to Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu and Mr. Narendra Modi, when they invited him to dais during 2014 Elections?

I am not sure about American Media, whether it calls a spade, a spade. But it incurred the wrath of Mr. Donald Trump the new 2017-21 American President, according to whom their Media under-reported the number of people who attended the Inaugural Ceremony of Mr. Donald Trump. As far as Indian Media is concerned, and in particular about Telugu Media conducts itself, in a safe manner, ensuring that they do not hurt the expectations of the Powers that be, whether at Delhi or at Hyderabad / Amaravati (Velagapudi). The Context for this comment of mine is: Mr. Pavan Kalyan, a Top Telugu film star, and Jana Sena Party leader, used his Tweets for making a scathing criticism of Andhra Pradesh Government not making adequate efforts to get the Special Category Status for the State of Andhra Pradesh, as promised in United Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation Act. Unable to bear or hide his agony, Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, immediately rushed to Telugu Media with his remarks:--

"...Do any of those speaking about SCS have any experience in administration? Have they worked at least as a Sarpanch of a village? Development would come to a standstill if we keep on fighting with the Centre ..."

Read more at: Click here to go to https://www.telugu360.com/chandrababu-modi-shared-stage-person-hasnt-worked-sarpanch/. While some TV channels showed "live", the remarks of Mr. Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, none of those TV channels or any other channel, appear to have made the observation which this website Telugu360.com has made as under:--

"... While he definitely cannot risk to tarnish his government’s image, but isn’t Pawan Kalyan the same person who was sharing dais with the now PM and CM during the election campaign?

What experience does Nara Lokesh have? Why is Naidu planning to induct his son as MLC instead of making him elected representative? Isn’t Lokesh the guy who blamed Jagan for reduction of land prices in Amaravati? What experience does he have in administration? There are two TDP Union Ministers and yet Naidu compromised on SCS. Before questioning someone’s capability, a self-introspection is needed. NTR despite being an actor, provided the first educated government to Andhra Pradesh with Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers as his ministers. TDP has now a DGP who says 26th January is Independence Day and a leader who says B.com has Physics. The CM doesn’t trust home grown civil engineers and brings in foreign architects but expects Nobel Prize from students. Moreover, he has been roping in movie directors for designing Amaravati and not the civil engineers who have the expertise. .."

I greatly appreciate their frankness, and courage. Some critics may say that it is TACTLESSNESS. In today's world, calling a spade, a spade, is regarded as tactlessness. Okay, in a business sense of BUSINESS PRUDENCE, it may be tactlessness, because there is a danger of circari (Governmental) favors such as advertisements, free/concessional site in Capital Region of Amaravati, some free/concessional train passes, invitations for some circari Media Conferencees etc. etc. not reaching them. Then, they will have the satisfaction of acting with COURAGE AND CONVICTION. This website has also published the photo of the dais which Mr. Naidu and Mr. Narendra Modi shared with Pavan Kalyan. I do not know whether Shri Naidu or his CMO read/study/see this tv360.com web page or not. If they see this web page it will be well and good. Else, Shri Naidu can look into mirror his own-self, for at least 15 minutes every day, for introspection, which he severely lacks.

Note: I am not a supporter of Mr. Jagan, or anybody else. Nor am I, a Naidu-hater. This is not a hate-blog of Mr. Naidu or Mr. Modi..

ABOUT Mr. Lokesh not getting elected as Sarpanch

Now, Mr. Nara Lokesh is not hoi polloi. He is Prince Bhuvaneshwari putra Satakarni.

ABOUT LATE NTR SENIOR (FORMER CM OF ANDHRA PRADESH) BRINGING IN DOCTORS ETC.

Late N.T. Rama Rao did not lag behind in NEPOTISM. By making Mr. Nara Chandra Babu Naidu as the DE FACTO CHIEF MINISTER OF ANDHRA PRADESH (of course till Ms. Lakshmi Parvati tried / was allowed to try to replace him), Late NTR proved that he was like his predecessor Congress Politicians. NT Rama Rao paid the price for trusting Mr. Naidu, just as Messrs. L.K. Advani and Murali Manohar Joshi paid the price for encouraging Shri Narendra Modi. Of course, they received their consolation/token gifts of PADMA VIBHUSHANS. NT Rama Rao didn't get Padma Vibhushan or Bharat Ratna, though occasionally Mr. Naidu feigns/pretends of trying for Bharata Ratna for NTR. Late NTR was also very much conscious of his own castes, and instead of discontinuing the caste based politics of the previous Governments, he had brought in new caste equations into the administration of the then United Andhra Pradesh.

Question: Is the casteism of Late NTR relevant today?

Ans: It is very much relevant, because RAMPANT CASTEISM IS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE BIFURCATION OF UNITED ANDHRA PRADESH, into Telangana and Residual Andhra Pradesh. Both Mr. KCR and Mr. Naidu, are carrying on their agenda of caste and family politics. Mr. J.C. Divakar Reddy, former Congress Minister , and current TDP MP from Anantapur, appears to blame Reddys for the injustices to Rayala Seema. His comment seems to intend to please Mr. Naidu, for reasons known only to Mr. Reddy. Casteism is a disease common to all the LANDED CASTES OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND TELANGANA STATE.

Question: Your observation seems to be wrong. Mr. Naidu gave Dy. Chief Ministerships to one BC, and one SC. He didn't give Dy. Chief Minister posts to his own caste persons!

Ans: Both Mr. K.E. Krishna Murthy and Mr. Nimmakayala Chinna Rajappa are Dy. Chief Ministers only on paper. Though they handle important portfolios like Revenue and Home, do they really have any say in the Cabinet? When Mr. Naidu was on his visit to Davos, who in the Capital Region of Andhra Pradesh, spoke like a Chief Minister ? In my personal view (it may be wrong), Mr. Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, Irrigation Minister, acted like a Dy. Chief Minister or probably as the De Facto Chief Minister.

About CM not trusting Indian Engineers / Architects

TV360's comment is right.

About CM bringing in Film Directors to design Amaravati

Reply: I support TV360's view.

To continue. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.

876 WE DO NOT NEED ROBBERS WITH CHECKED-LUNGIS, PATTA-BELTS TO THEIR WAIST, WITH KNIVES PIERCED INTO THEIR CHEEKS, CURLED HAIRSTYLES, TO ROB PEOPLE!!!

Though this particular blog post, prima facie appears to pertain to Telugu (spoken by 100 million people globally) film industry, India, the problem of atrophy and decay persists in almost all languages of the world, in almost all countries. The current rot and atrophy in Telugu film field, is robbing Telugu people all over the world, of their hard-earned millions of bucks and Rupees. Context and Trigger: On the occasion of Sankranti festival (Jan. 14, 2017, the day on which Sun enters the Constellation Capricorn, in its Northern journey towards the Line of Cancer 23 degrees North of equator), two top stars of Telugu film industry are releasing their 100th and 150th films with much noise and visual pollution. The extremities of propaganda and publicity they are resorting to, spending millions of bucks, indicates that they are too nervous and timid. Both the stars, Shri Chiranjeevi, and Shri Balakrishna are established stars with several years of experience and standing. Both are politicians. Shri Chiranjeevi is a former Union Minister of State for Tourism, during the UPA-2 Rule. Shri Balakrishna is the brother-in-law of Present Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Nara Chandra Babu Naidu. Mr. Balakrishna is also an M.L.A. (Member of Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly).

KHAIDI NO. 150 (PRISONER NO. 150), robs Rs. 1000 million from the crazy brainless youth of Andhra Pradesh

Shri Chiranjeevi's Khadi Number 150 released with much fanfare in 1404 screens all over the world. In Rupee terms also, the film is said to have raked upto Rs. 1 billion (Rs. 100 crore). The film also claims to have grossed in United States of America itself a million Dollars. Our Mega Star Hero forgets that he is a Former Union Minister, forgets that he has to act with grace and dignity vis-a-vis his past preachings to people, dances to lewd dances. We need not say, that Telugu film fights like their Tamil and Hollywood counterparts will be unrealistic. The film is said to be a remake of the Tamil film by name "katti" (knife). Chiranjeevi plays a double role of 1. katti Seenu (villain-dress hero carrying a knife) and 2. Shankar, a do-gooder Anantapur District villager who is on a mission to make a representation to media and judiciary in Hyderabad.

GOWTHAMI PUTRA SATAKARNI

Shri Nandamuri Balakrishna is a Telugu Desam Party M.L.A. from Hindupuram Constituency which incidentally is in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh.

This film is also reported to be releasing in about 1000 screens globally. The producers and director also may be expecting to make another billion Rupees, a la Khaidi No. 150.

Story: Gowthami Putra SAtakarNi was a Satavahana Dynasty Emperor, who ruled a substantial part of India, during the 2nd Century A.D., with dhAnyakaTakam as Capital (DharaNikota-Amaravati, Guntur District, near the Capital Region of the Andhra Pradesh State). There is much historical haziness about the indepth quality of rule of the Satavahana Rulers. Telugu People take pride, in the glory of the Satavahana Rulers, who are also known as "Andhras", the words 'Andhra' and 'Telugu' almost used both for language and the region, synonymously. Like his father, Late Mr. Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Balakrishna may be ambitious to carve a niche in folk, historical, and mythological films. The film can generate mother sentiments, because Satavahana Rulers prefixed their names with the names of their mothers. Father of Shri Balakrishna, introduced a romantic song, for a negative character like Duryodhana, in his film Dana Vira Sura Karna. Likewise, Mr. Balakrishna can also go with some romance for the warrior king Gowthami Putra Satakarni.

Producing folk - historical - mythological films is not easy. Cumbersome. Expensive. Whatever be the quality of the film, we must congratulate Mr. Balakrishna for his courage and adventurism, in a selecting a rare subject.

WHY 1404 SCREENS? WHY 1000 SCREENS? WHY SO MUCH PROPAGANDA?

Why the Heroes, producers and Directors are so timid?

WE DO NOT NEED ROBBERS WITH CHECK-LUNGIS, PATTA BELTS TO THEIR WAIST, WITH KNIVES PIERCED INTO THEIR CHEEKS, CURLED HAIR, TO ROB PEOPLE!

As an after-effect of demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes in India, people are going through tough times, owing to shortage of hard cash. When films are produced with huge outlays, the producers become nervous and also villainish. As distributors buy the films with astronomical sums, they sell/rent out to the Theater owners at high rents. Consequently, hiking the official ticket prices, and black-marketing becomes rampant. For example, a balcony ticket of Rs. 80, The official ticket price is reported to have been hiked to Rs. 250/-. So, if a family of a couple and their two children, have to see both the films, the family has to shell out 250 x 4 x 2 = Rs. 2,000 + auto expenses, petrol expenses, parking charges, soft drinks, popcorn, pea nuts etc. will take the expense to Rs. 4,000/-. Apart from expenses of Rs. 4,000 for going to the films, the Sankranti Festival expenses for eatables, clothes, etc. will be another Rs. 5,000/- per family. There are also reports that at many places a single balcony ticket officially of Rs. 250/- has been sold for Rs. 2,000/- (nearly 8 times more).

then there will be betting on cock-fights, which will cost another Rs. 1 billion for Telugu land.

Bus Operators all over the State, have started charging astronomical amounts for bus journeys,to extort from the people. This will also be in millions.

ARE THE PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS, HEROES AFRAID THAT THEIR FILM WILL NOT GO TO THE SECOND DAY?

More to write and edit. To continue. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.

730 Part 3/10 of the Moribund State of Telugu film industry. Not only Mr. Puri Jagannath, his distributors and producers, but also 10 million Telugu audiences are also being subjected to Rollercoaster rides !

In our Problemsoftelugus post No. 591 , and Problemsoftelugus post No. 613 we have discussed how the Telugu film industry was in a moribund condition in 1941 itself, discussing an article by Shri RARAJU who has correctly identified the extreme dangers involved in paying huge remunerations to Heros and Directors. We, are, now in 2016. Even after 75 years, there is no change in the rash reckless state of affairs.

Supporters of Private Sector and Free Enterprise Capitalism in India, present Private Businesses as a paragons of virtues, and the State Enterprises as dirty turtles. In India we have all the three i.e. the Press, the TV Channels, and the Film Industry, all in Private Sector. What a Great Efficiency we see in Indian Private Sector Media !

The most reputed Surgeon in India, may not charge Rs. 85 million for a surgery. The most reputed lawyer in India, may not charge Rs. 85 million for taking up a case. The President of India, Vice President, Chief Justice of India and his Associate Judges, Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers, Lok Sabha Speaker, nobody gets an annual salary of Rs. 85 million. But, surprisingly, one Telugu film director by name Mr. Puri Jagannath, takes Rs. 85 million for handling a film. The Telugu film industry is not the largest film industry or the film market in India. The first rank in India goes to Bollywood, i.e. the film Industry of Mumbai, Hindi films.

If Rs. 85 million is the remuneration taken by a Telugu film director, what will be the remuneration taken by a Top Hindi film Director? Among Bollywood Heros, it is said that Mr. Salman Khan charges Rs. 600 million, approx. a million U.S. Dollars. All these crores and millions for shoddy, shabby films.

Recently, there is a commotion as Mr. Puri Jagannath, the Rs. 85 million Director, has reported to the Police that he has been attacked by a batch of Film Distributors at his home, demanding compensation for the flopped Telugu film named Loafer.

TheHindu.Com , dated 17th Dec. 2015, published an interview with Mr. Puri Jagannath, the Director of the ill-fated film Loafer, which is worth reading.

A snapshot of "TheHindu.com" 's observation, and the words of Mr. Puri Jagannath are worth studying:

"...Director Puri Jagannadh rises like a phoenix after every two flops; a rollercoaster ride is a moderate term to describe his life. In a chat with MetroPlus on the eve of the release of Loafer, he says, “I believe I’m in a war zone. Every day I am fighting with myself, people and situations. I don’t believe God has been kind to me, he doesn’t think of us at all. From the seventh class onwards I stopped praying. Earlier I would go to Nagara Sankeerthanalu, poojalu and vrathams wherever they were held.yekkada ye vratham ayina nenu vellevadini God is there but pattinchukodu (he doesn’t bother). ...”

Supporters of Mr. Puri Jagannath blamed the Tamil Star Mr. Rajini Kanth, for starting a culture of artists compensating film distributors, when films fail.

The argument of Mr. Puri Jagannath seems to be that the Distributors have to approach the Producers of the films for compensation, and not their Directors.

The Film Distributors involved claim innocence, and they seem to want to sue Mr. Jagannath for defamation.

Assuming that film direction is an intellectual occupation or profession, if we compare a doctor, an advocate with the Film Director, what sort of analyses we can make? Surgeons and Doctors do not refund fees, when patients die. Advocates do not refund fees, when the clients lose cases. Then how is it that Film Distributors want part refund of Director's Fees?

In Traditional theory of Capitalism, Profit is regarded as a reward for bearing risk. Among the four factors of production i.e. Land, Labor, Capital and Organisation, the Land gets rent, Labor gets wages, Capital gets interest, and the Organisation i.e. Management -in Film industry the Film Producers and the Distributors gets the Profits. As Profit is the reward for taking risk, Risk should also be borne between the Producers and the Distributors, in agreed proportions. Thus, legally, Mr. Jagannath, comes under Labor (though he takes Rs. 8.5 crore), and is not expected to share profits or losses, unless there is a separate express arrangement for that.

Then, should the case of Film Distributors for some relief from the Diector who charges Rs. 8.5 crore, become absolutely hopeless. There are two ways.

First, the Distributors can prove with some evidence, that there is an implied custom which has emerged in Telugu film Industry , -the custom of artists also sharing the losses and risks.

Second, the Distributors can prove that the Director failed to exercise reasonable diligence and skills in discharging his job. Then, what should be the level of "reasonableness of skills" ? What should be the reasonableness of diligence? Is there any negligence on his part? One test which can be made to gauge this lack of required level of diligence can be: "Would he have exercised the same diligence and skill, if he himself were the producer and the Distributor" ?.

Main problem is Film industries are rotten all over the World right from Hollywood to Vollywood (Visakhapatnam Film Industry). If Film Distributors of Loafer were really honest, they can have the courage to show that they were prepared to pay only Rs. 1 crore, but they were induced to pay Rs. 8.5 crore by misrepresentations or false representations. But it may not be the case factually. Anything may happen. The Distributors in their craze might have even offered Rs. 10.5 crore, but Mr. Jagannath might have reduced it to Rs. 8.5 crore, giving a concession of Rs. 2 crore.

This blog post is not a post mortem of the reported failure of Loafer. We are not going to write from a hind sight of failure of X film or Y Film. This is because, 90% of Telugu films fail, for myriad reasons. The burning crucial question is how the Telugu, Tamil, HIndi, ... Indian Film Industries can be nursed back to their natural health?

Distribution of Films involve commercial risks. There is a big science of Economics, called "Risk Management" about which the MBAs of IIMs are expected to know much. Do Film Distributors maintain knowledgeable staff for Risk Prediction, Risk Measurement, Predictive quantification of Risk losses ? No. The Film Distributors take risks from their past experience, if they have any, and depend on their hunches. The dividing line between gambling, and working on hunches, is very thin.

At least theoretically, the Film Producers and Film Distributors can incorporate a Film Risk Insurance Company, as a Commercial Venture, to share risks. Reason: General Insurers in India, both Private Sector and Public Sector may not come forward to provide Commercial Risk Insurance cover to Indian films. We can't blame them.

It is reported that Mr. Puri Jagannath has gone to Singapore, to work on a script. What is the need to work a script in Singapore?

It has become a fashion for Telugu Film Directors to shoot films abroad, whether the storyline requires it or not. The best example for this craze can be seen in case of Bahubali directed by Shri Rajmouli, who went to Bulgaria for a 25 day shooting. What Bahubali has got to do with Bulgaria? The ostensible explanation: Strike by Telugu film federation employees. Interruptions by rains.

In case of Loafer, a large part of the film was said to have been shot in Jaisalmer. If desert-type locations are required, the film could have been shot in Anantapur Dt., somewhere near Madakasira or Rayachoti or Kalyanadurgam. Alternatively, the Loafer could have been shot somewhere near Atchampet, in Mahaboobnagar District. Why should everybody stand in queue in Jaipur / Jaisalmer / Bharatpur / Udaypur ? Shooting in Madakasira or Atchampeta, could have generated some local employment, while reducing the budget of the film from Crores to Lakhs.

Bahubali collecting big bucks from innocent addicted spectators by jacking up prices (Rs. 1,500 per ticket) and cornering large number of theatres across the two States, does not justify its extravagance. Simply, they have wasted the resources of the country.

It is very disheartening to note that criminals have entered the film production, film distribution, film exhibition businesses.

SOLUTIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF CAPITALIM

Telugu audience have to discourage huge budget films which shot abroad, and films which indulge in wasteful expenses.

Telugu audience should give preference insist on affordable fares in theatres. Only low budget films can do it. How can a Director who charges Rs. 85 million for his about six months work, can produce a low budget film? How can he help in reduction of Theatre ticket prices?

In respect of controlling film production expenses, according to my understanding, Late N.T. Rama Rao (& his brother Trivikrama Rao), Late Nagi Reddy and ChakrapANi used to be very planned and, effective and efficient.



Subject to corrections and deletions. To continue. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.